Our verdict: Evernote is still a polished note app with strong search, a web clipper and tasks, but its free plan is now little more than a trial. Free accounts are limited to 50 notes, one notebook and sync on one device. If you want a free note app for real daily use, Joplin, OneNote or Notesnook give you far more.
About Evernote
Evernote saves notes, checklists, PDFs, images and clipped web pages in your account and syncs them to the apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone and the web. Notes are organised in notebooks and with tags, and search also finds text inside images and attachments.
According to Evernote's plan comparison, the Free plan includes 50 notes, 1 notebook, 20 tags, 200 attachments, 1 GB of storage and sync on 1 device. Starter raises this to 1,000 notes, 20 notebooks and 3 devices, and the Advanced and Unlimited plans remove the limits. AI features are reserved for paid plans.
What it does well
- Web Clipper. Saves whole pages, simplified articles or screenshots from the browser into a note.
- Search in attachments. Finds words inside images, scanned documents and PDFs.
- Tasks and reminders. Adds due dates and reminders to tasks inside notes.
- Evernote Calendar. Connects one Google or Microsoft calendar on the Free plan and links events to notes.
- Templates. Ready-made layouts for meeting notes, journals and project plans.
Who it is for
Good fit
Existing Evernote users who keep a small number of notes on one device, or who plan to pay for a subscription.
Look elsewhere
Anyone looking for a free note app with many notes, several notebooks or sync between PC and phone.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Polished apps and web clipper
- Search inside images and PDFs
- Tasks and calendar built in
Cons
- Free plan: only 50 notes, 1 notebook and 1 synced device
- Paid plans are needed for any serious use
- All notes are stored on Evernote's servers
How to install Evernote
The direct link always downloads the latest Windows installer from Evernote's server. You need an Evernote account to start the app. On the Free plan, the device you sign in on first is the one that syncs, so decide whether that should be your PC or your phone.
Questions about Evernote
Is Evernote free?
There is a Free plan, but it is limited to 50 notes, 1 notebook, 20 tags, 1 GB of storage and sync on 1 device. Larger limits require Starter, Advanced or Unlimited.
Can I use Evernote free on my phone and PC?
Not with sync on both: the Free plan syncs to 1 device. Starter allows 3 devices and Advanced unlimited devices.
How do I move my notes out of Evernote?
Export notebooks as ENEX files from the desktop app; Joplin, Notesnook and other note apps can import them.
